A crucial result and performance to day at Upton Park, read on for a report and player ratings....
West Ham stopped the rot that had threatened to settle in after a poor mini run today with a good 1-0 against Manchester City. After our diabolical showing against Boro mid-week, I was just going to settle for a draw and a decent performance, but we came away with more than that.
It was at a price however as Hammer of the Year contender Valon Behrami was stretchered off with some serious damage to his ankle, we wish you really well Valon and hope you are on the mend soon.
All in all, it was a fairly bruising encounter, I actually expected more from City in terms of the way they play. They came to Upton Park a couple of seasons ago and caned us with some free flowing stuff. But even with players like Robinho and Bellamy, it seemed they were determined to muscle their way to victory rather than play their way to it. It reminded me of the way Blackburn played under Hughes and to be honest, having spent £51m in Januuary, you'd expect a little more.
Anyway, not our problem - Noble was suspended so Kovac started this one and Di Michele was re-instated up front alongside Carlton Cole. We had the better of the first half until the Behrami injury late on took he wind out of our sails. Behrami was replaced by Savio and it was he who was to play a crucial part in our winner.
Second half was slightly more even, City did have some good chances but although we domianted with posession, our determination to pass the ball into the net looked like it might cost us. That was until a lovely run and long range shot brought a strange save from Shay Given which allowed the ball to rebound to Collison who finished it with a lovely chip.
It was a bit frantic towards the end but we held on for the three points and find oursevles in 7th place which sets us up nicely for the run-in. Here are the ratings;
Green - 6 - one great save in the first half and good handling but I'm starting to get nervous whenever there is a free kick in range
Illunga - 6.5 - ran around like a maniac as usual, did well
Upson - 6 - never really troubled, stable
Tomkins - 7 - did very well in his second full game this season, growing into the role
Neill - 7 - very good skipper's performance
Collison - 7 - good goal and was lively all game, doing really well for us
Parker - 8 - this genius will be Hammer of the Year, outstanding performance again
Kovac - 5.5 - hmmmm, still settling in, some very poor passing and seemed a yard short but uses his height well and gets involved, needs mroe time to settle
Behrami - 6 - stretchered off, come back soon!
Cole - 7 - another no nonsense performance from Carlton
Di Michele - 6 - was a livewire in the first half but somewhat disappered in the second
Subs;
Savio - 6 - still want to see more and with Behrami out we may well do, did well for the goal
Lopez and Spector also game but had no major effect.
Zola/Clarke - 8 - got the lads believing again and stiffled City, nice work gents
Great stuff overall and 3 points that has us looking upwards not downwards. And Spurs lost the Carling Cup, all in all, a great day, come on you Irons!!!!!!!
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